Latch for closure



Nov. 12, 1940'. s. H. wEsTERHElM LATCH FOR CLOSURE' Filed Sept. 19, 1938 Patented Nov. 12, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENToFFIcE LATCH Fon oLosURE Sam H. Westerheim, Luck, Wis. Application september 19, 1933, seriaiNo. 230,617

1 Claim.

Myinvention relates to latches for use on doors, drawers and the like.

An object of Vmy invention is to provide a latch having a stop element adapted to be fixedly mounted in various positions relative to the shiftable part of the latch and yet properly cooperate therewith.

Another object is to provide such a latch having an operating element movable to disengage the latch in the same direction as the direction of opening movement of a closure with which the `latch is associated.

` Still another object is to provide such a latch wherein movement of a shiftable portion thereof, in a direction parallel to the face of a closure with which the latch is associated, out of mutual engagement with a fixed stop element is accom- `panied by movement of said shiftable element rearwardly relative to the stop element. A further object is to provide such a latch which is particularly easy to operate and which is of simple, compact, light, rugged and inexpensive construction.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to `the same or similar parts throughout the views, and, in which :n

` Fig. 1 is a front view of an embodiment of my invention `operatively associated with a brokenaway portion of a door and shelf of a cabinet;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken along the line i 2-2 of Fig. 1 as indicated by the arrows; 3'0 Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the stop member of the latch of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 isa rear broken-awaitr view of a relatively thick door and door frame having my stop member associated therewith in a manner somewhat different than that of Figs. 1 and 2; n

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 4 as indicated by the arrows;` and Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 except that my latch member is positioned differently to adapt it for use in association with a relatively thin door and door frame.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, an embodiment of my invention is shown in operative association with a door 1, .a door frame 8 and a shelf 9. The embodiment shown includes a .shiftable element comprising a bell-crank having one arm Illa disposed forwardly of and parallel to the door I and projecting downwardly from the junction between the arm Illa and the remaining arm of the bellcrank. `The door 'I is provided with an aperture Ia through which the remaining `arm Illb of the bellcrank projects to a point a moderate distance behind the door l. The arm IIla which is widened somewhat toward its lower end is provided with corrugations IIJc and has a lower end ldstepped as shown for the purpose of rendering the arm Illa more or less ornamental. The arm Illa is of channel shapedcross section bel cause of the rearwardly projecting iianges Ille 10 formed thereon.

4 Means is provided forV swingably connecting the bellcrank I0 with the door I ata medially disposed ypoint on the arm Ia so that the `bellcrank Ill is swingable in the plane occupied there- 1`5' by. A plate I I having parallel vertically extending and forwardly projecting flanges I Ia thereon is suitably vsecured to the front face of the door 1 as by means of screws I2. Apertured ears IIb are provided on the ,plate I I to accommodate two 20 of the fastening screws I2 and the upper end of the plate I I is apertured to accommodatea third one of the screws I2. A pivot pin I3 is provided and extends through aligned apertures in the medial portions Aof the flanges Ille of the arm 25 Illa and through the lower portions of the flanges IIa carried by the Yplate II. The pivotal connection thus provided enables the bellcrank I0 to be rotated` in the plane occupied thereby.

Since the pivotal axis of the bellcrank I0 is .dis- 30 posed in the medial portion of the arm Illa instead of at the junction between the respective arms `Illa and Illb forward movementof the arm Illa will cause the free end portion of the arm Illbto move notl only downwardly but alsosome- 35 what rearwardly to provide an advantage to be explained later.L The plate II is provided with a Arearwardly bent portion IIc thereof extending along the lower limits of the aperture 1a. The aperture 1a is preferably circular in cross sec- 40 tion and the rearwardlyr projecting portion Ilo of the plate4 I I is arcuate in cross section as shown. The plate I I is, of course, apertured to accommodate the rearwardly projecting arm Illb of the bellcrank4 IILThe rearwardly projecting 45 arm I 0b is of arcuate'substantially U-shaped cross section and the free end portion I 0f is curved downwardly to provide a curved camming surface Illg. Just inwardly of the camming surface 10g the arm Ib is provided with 50 an aperture Illh which is dened at the rear side thereof by a surface |07' constituting an abutment element.

A helical spring I4 is provided to yieldingly urge the bellcrank Ill in a counterclockwise di- 55 l received in suitable apertures in the bellcrank arm IIJb and the rearwardly projecting portion IIc of the plate Il.

For cooperating with the above described portion of my latch structure I provide a universal stop member adapted to cooperate with the abutment element Ig of the bellcrank arm Illb. Referring to Fig. 3 my stop member Srincludes a preferably rectangular plate |.-5 carrying on the longitudinal edges thereof flanges |5a, so that the major portion of the stop member S is of channel shaped cross section. The flanges |5a may be diagonally cut away at the ends |517 thereof as shown if desired. A series of spaced apertures I6 extending longitudinally of the plate I5 are provided to accommodate screws by means of which the plate I5 may be secured to various objects. At the right-hand end of the plate I5 as viewed in Fig. 3 a projecting element Il is formed', this element beingl bent to project in ja direction substantially normal to the plate I5 and in the same direction from the plate I5 as the flanges I5a. The remaining end of the plate I5 is extended beyond the left-hand ends of the flanges I5a and Ycarries on its respective end and side edges three projections I8, I9, and 2li which The plate liein the same plane as` the plate I5. I5, flanges I5a and the projections I1, I8, I9, and 2U are preferably formed. integrally of suitable material such. as sheet metal. 'Ihe previously described bellcrank III and plate are also preferably formed of material such as sheet metal.

In Fig. 2 my stop member S is shown attached tothe lower side of the shelf 9 by means of screws 2|. The position of the stop member S is such that the projection I1 is situated for 4cooperation with the arm Ib and abutment element I g of. the bellcrank I0. The latch is shown in the latched'position. To open the door l the user of the device may insert a linger behind the arm I0a of the bellcrank I0 and by applying pressure move the bellcrank toward the dotted line position thereof shown in Fig. 2. In movement of the bellcrank II)v from the full line to the dotted line position the abutment element |07" moves not only downwardly to become disengaged from .the

.projection I'I of the stop member vSbut also moves rearwardly to. relieve frictional engagementbetween the abutment element Illb and the projection II. When the bellcrank IU has. been swung to such a position that portions of the arm IIlb strike portions. of the door I dening the aperture 1a, continued forward pressure aptoward. the dotted line position thereof until the rto the stop member S.

abutment element Ig has reached a position wherein it is aligned with the rear face of the projection Il. When 4such position has been reached the spring I4 will return the bellcrank I0 to the latched position thereof shown in Fig. 2. f

Fig. 4 shows my latch applied to the door I and frame member 8 in a case Where a shelf such as the shelf 9 is not available for securing there- In this case the stop member S is secured to the door frame member 8 by means of'screws 22 and is positioned so that the projection 29 is situated for cooperation with the abutment element Illy of the bellcrank Il). The door 'I and door frame are shown as being relatively thick andin this .case the plate I is attached to the door frame member 9 by means of the screws 22 with. the flanges |512 projecting rearwardly from the door frame member. 8. This arrangement of the stop member S places the .projection 29 in the proper plane for cooperation lwith the abutment element |97'.

In Fig. 6 my latch is shown applied to a door frame member 23 and a door associated therewith, both of which are relatively thin. In this case the plate I5 'is secured to the door frame member 23 by means of screws 24 with the flanges 85a and the projection I'I disposed on the side of the plate I5 toward the door frame member 23 so as to constitute spacing means for positioning the projection VI8 in theV proper plane forl cooperation with the abutment element 7.

While my stop member S has been `illustrated and 4described as. used in three respective positions thereof relative tothe bellcrank |0,it should be apparent that the stop member S may be positioned in still other relations with the bellcrank I9.

'I'he latching and unlatching action of my latch is the same in thearrangements shown in Figs. 4,' 5,.and 6 as it is in the arrangementy shown in Fig, 2. While my latch has been shown inassociation with a door land a door frame, the latch is.

equally well adapted for use in connection with a drawer or with various types of closures other than doors. v

It is-apparent that I have invented a novel, eiective easily operated closure latch of simple, compact, light, and inexpensive construction.

It will, of course, befunderstood Ythat various changes may bemade in` the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

In a latch, the combination with a shiftable abutment element of. a keeper structure comprising, a body of channel shaped cross section including a web and a pair of flanges, a portion of said web being constructed.. for useas a stop to be engaged by said abutment element, said body being attachable to a surface with said web thereagainst or to a surface.V with `the free edges of said anges thereagainst.

" SAM H. WESTERHEIM. 

